I met Alexander during the last edition of the Fête du Vélo in June. What captured my attention was a trailer attached to his bike. He was towing his two-year-old daughter Laura. Parents cycling with their kids in trailers or cargo bikes are still a rare sight in Luxembourg but it seems that people from abroad who settle down in Luxembourg are bringing valuable cycling habits with them.

Alexander originally comes from Freiburg, which explains a lot. Freiburg has gained the most desirable labels: green city, ecological heart of Germany, model of sustainability. Next to solar panels, passive houses and recycling, the city has invested a great deal in cycling. Cycling seems to be second nature for Freiburg’s citizens. Alexander confirms this: “Definitely, it is a cycling city. It is true that the city took a lot of steps to become bicycle-friendly. For example, it converted a street with high cycle traffic into a cycling zone where cars are allowed but they are secondary street users. Cycling is part of daily life. Most of my friends did not have a car and I myself could purely rely on a bicycle. In Freiburg, you can perfectly combine such modes of transportation as train and bike. Taking a bike on board is not an issue.”

Moving to Luxembourg seven years ago must have been like jumping into a different reality. “My father told me that nobody cycles here”, laughs Alexander.” But over these last seven years things have changed. “The city is taking a lot of effort to invest in the infrastructure. The introduction of the velo’h! system has changed a lot, it influenced people’s thinking about using bikes and improved the visibility of bicycles.”

Even with noticeable gaps between Freiburg’s and Luxembourg’s cycling infrastructure, Alexander did not want to compromise his cycling habits. “If you are keen on cycling, you will find your own way through the city without being discouraged.”

It was clear for him and his wife that they would need some sort of transportation for their daughter. They eventually chose a trailer that offers a range of practical solutions. The trailer fold flats so it takes much less space than one would think. In less than 5 minutes, Alexander puts all the elements together and a minute later Laura is sitting snugly inside, munching on biscuits and smiling to us. There is enough space inside to store toys, children’s books, a bottle of water and snacks. Nutrition, hydration, education and transportation in one. It is a more expensive option compared to a baby seat, but it is fitted with a range of safety features.

To start with, Laura is strapped inside the trailer with a harness consisting of straps around her shoulders, a waist belt and a crotch strap, almost like in a racing car. The trailer is attached to the bike by means of a special swiveling hitch. In case the parent falls, the trailer will not flip over but will remain steady.

The outside of the carrier is covered with reflective strips. As the trailer is lower to the ground and less visible than a bike, Alexander attaches a long, bright orange safety flag to its side. In case the trailer goes over a bumpy surface or a curb, the full suspension ensures the kid’s comfort.

It is also a genuine all-weather means of transport. The whole cabin is made of waterproof Cordura fabric. Laura is protected from rain thanks to a rolled-down front panel. A mesh front screen ensures ventilation and protects her against bugs and pebbles. From inside, Laura can still admire the views through tinted side windows. A great thing about the trailer is that it can be easily converted into a stroller. Active parents can even take their kid for a run as the trailer is also convertible into a jogging kit.

When towing a trailer it is best to avoid high traffic areas. “I am rather trying to find my own ways through the city and choose less congested roads. To get to Parc Merl, I avoid Avenue de la Liberté and instead take side streets. Even if it takes a few minutes longer, it is more relaxing.”

Cycling parents underline that using a trailer helps them instil in their children an active lifestyle and show them that there is an alternative to cars. “Laura accepts it as a normal means of transportation. She enjoys it. We give her a book. Also, she is more exposed to nature and fresh air.”

Carrying kids in a trailer is believed to help them transition to a bike when they grow up. From inside the cabin, kids can watch their parents navigating around and can learn how to give hand signals, how to behave in traffic and overall pick up some of their parents’ cycling habits. For Laura, it may be easier to later transition to her own bike. “Hopefully”, smiles Alexander. “Well, it is also part of  my story because my mother used to take me and my brother on her bike, which at that time was very uncommon and she was seen as someone unusual. And maybe I inherited this love for biking.”

While cycling with kids in trailers is commonplace in Freiburg, it is quite a sensation in Luxembourg. “People look at me, a lot of them smile. They seem to accept the idea- they express that, especially other cyclists.”  Alexander’s advice for parents who hesitate whether to try a trailer or not is that they should: “Just do it. They should not be afraid of traffic, they can just try to find their way in less congested roads. My experience is that there is always a way to get from point A to B in a reasonable manner.”

It was a first for the urban cycling scene in Luxembourg. And it began rather mysteriously with a seemingly random invite to a Facebook event that called itself “AlleySchleck true racing” with the following text:

Macadam, Schweess an Kettenuelech!
AlleySchleck is the first AlleyCat Race in Luxembourg. The race takes place in and around Luxembourg City. Check points with special challenges, have to be completed but you are free to pick your route. You can bike alone or as a team. The first one to finish gets the win. The other get the glory.
We will keep you informed as to the exact Start Location.
The participation is FREE!
Get your bikes ready and join for an afternoon of true racing.

Those of you who are more into urban bike life know certainly that this could only mean: AlleyCat time!

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.An Alleycat is a rather loosely organised cycling event that has its roots in the bike courier community. Initially you get no more then a time, a place and rudimentary instructions. In our case: “bring a lock and some tools to change a tyre”.

The meeting point was behind Mudam around 17:30 near the Dräi Eechelen (Three Acorns). Once we arrived it still was rather mysterious. But the spoke card really spurred you on to get going to whatever happens next. On the spot there were around 30 cyclists calmly chatting and joking around. Some latecomers took on the extra challenge of fixing their bike just before the start of whatever was going to happen. But then somehow a map of Luxembourg City was placed in the middle of the grass. Riders gathered around and saw 5 crosses on the map. They coincided with the 5 boxes on the spoke card.

Now you would have thought that everyone would plot on their own to figure out where these spots were, but no, everyone openly threw their thoughts out on what the different places were and what they might mean. We could identify: Exit07, Schueberfouer, Cloche D’or, somewhere on route d’Arlon in Strassen, and the Grund. Instantly, people took pictures or marked the points on their own maps that weremade available.

By now the 18:00 mark was well passed and we knew the start was going to be anytime soon.

Once all the latecomers were there, an organizer got ready to throw some pieces of paper in the air. All the cyclists eagerly stormed towards the precious pieces of information. It was nothing else then the manifest of the Alleycat. As you can see on the picture it gave you an idea of where to go and a small hint of what to look for. The riders stormed off to their bikes and rode to their respective checkpoints.

This should give you a brief overview on what was going on at the first ever Alleycat in Luxembourg but don’t videos say more then these few lines?! Enjoy the video below and see you for Halloween where the bike polo crew will organize a spooky urban bike night ride through the city.

Inspired by the sunny weather we’ve planned another cycling afternoon this Saturday, September 7th.

We’ll meet at 14:00 by the Vel’oh! stand and bike pump near the Glacis and the Fondation Pescatore bus stop.
Map View

Our tour will make a little circle to the east of Luxembourg City as follows:

Luxembourg-Kirchberg-Niederaven-Mesdorf-Schrassig-Moutfort-Contern-Luxembourg.

The total route is about 45km, however after 20km we will be close to the train line, what makes possible to get on the train to Luxembourg City from several points: Roodt-sur-Syre, Oetrange, Sandweiler-Cotern.

In the middle of the ride we may stop for a fresh drink and after the cycle ride we’ll enjoy an ice cream sundae together.

“It is a silver space between two rains;
The lulling storm has given to the day
An hour of windless air and riven grey;
The world is drained of color; light remains.”
                                                                   (Nora May French)

It was one of those unique days between two days of steady rain.

In the early morning it was cold and grey, and my last hope of a hot summer day was gone… Only six of us met at the pump station. Hesitating between cycling to the lake in Remerschen or heading directly to the Les Thermes swimming pool in Strassen, we slowly headed to the second meeting point at the Viaduc…

Wow! I never expected this! Ten more riders, fit, young, and motivated to cycle in rain or shine were impatiently waiting there. It took us less than 5 minutes to make up our minds. Discussion was even unnecessary, because everyone wanted to cycle to the lake!

By and by, the weather did reward us fully for this decision… no single drop of rain fell until late evening and we even had a short spell of sunshine while swimming in the lake.

We enjoyed the 30km ride on a low traffic road with just a few hills and a long roll down with an amazing view onto a valley with cultivated fields, a little village and the banks of a lake.

In Remerschen it was very quiet and empty. Nobody expected any tourists to come and only one little Italian restaurant on the beach had a few clients. We parked our bicycles on the deserted beach and sat on the terrace for lunch. When the warm rays of sunshine showed themselves, half of the group went swimming, while the other half relaxed on the grass.

Later in the afternoon we headed to Remich following the river bank. In Remich we split into three groups: the first took a bus to the city, the second cycled back on PC7, and the third cycled to Wasserbillig along the famous Moselle Wine Route. This route has beautiful vineyards, plum and apple tree plantations, and blackberry bushes, and a calm river surface accompanies the meandering river route. Highly recommended to all.

As we arrived in rainy Luxembourg City later that evening we wondered if the whole Sunday was grey here, and the nice weather had only followed the lively cyclists!

Thank you all for your motivation, humour and energy! Enjoy the last of the summer days and keep cycling!

 
Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.